US1881556A

US1881556A - Packing casing head

Info

Publication number: US1881556A
Application number: US435078A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred G Heggem
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-03-12
Filing date: 1930-03-12
Publication date: 1932-10-11
Anticipated expiration: 1949-10-11

Description

Oct. II, 1932. A. G. HEGGEM 1,881,556

PACKING CASING HEA D Filed March 12. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 11, G, HEGGEM PACKING CASING HEAD Filed March 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 z 2; g g

Z5 l /0 2 42 5 A2 5 7 M a 42 v/ /2 9 [I Z/ ,2 m

0d. 11, 1932. A HEGGEM 1,881,556

PACKING GAS ING HEAD Filed March 12. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 kw QR Patent ed Oct. 11, 1932 P TENT OFFICE ALFRED e. nneenm, or TULSA, oxmnom PLCKIN G CASING HEAD Application filed larch 12, 1930. Serial No.- 435,078.

This invention relates to a packing casing head for oil wells providing means for suspendmg'strings' of casing in concentric relat 1on and for preventing-blow-outs by controlllng gas pressure which may occur between adjacent strings of casing.

The principal object of the invention is to afford an eificient packing casing head of simple' form which. may be easily assembled. A

10 further'object of the invention is to produce a device of the character indicated in which it is not necessary to employ tongs for efiecting the assembly of the external casing head mem er's. a

- 1 Another object of the invention is to provide effective means forpacking joints betwee'n' the gas outlets with which the casing 4 head membersare respectively provided.-

I In the drawings illustrating the invention, @Q the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims Figure-1 is. a side elevational view of a packing casing hea embodying the invention as employed for the suspension of a plurality of strings of easing, showing also the relation of a tubing head thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the 1 construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a modified form of packing casing .head involving the invention. I

Figure 4 is a vertical central section of the form of packing casing head illustrated in Figure 3. v i

In the drawings, 1 indicates a flange memher which is screw threaded on its interior, as at 2, to enable it to be screwed on to the I upper threaded endof the outer stringtof well casing 3. This bottom flange 1 is usually installed in a'cellar beneath the derrick floor of the oil well and may be supported in any ,well known or desired manner. It is formed with anupwardly facing surface 4 constitutinga seat for the packing head memher 5 immediately above it andis provided with an upwardly projecting marginal collar 6 serving to center the head; The surface of the flange memberl beneath the superimposed packing head 5 is-circ ularly grooved or' recessed, as at Z, toreceive a packing ring of rubber or other suitable material 8 for sealing the joint beneath the flange meinber 1 and the adjacent packing head member 5.

The packing recess 7 is preferably located at the junction of the upstanding collar 6 and I the upwardly facing interior surface 4 of the flange member 1, both because of convenience of manufacture and effectiveness. -As a means for securing the packing head member 5 in assembled relation to the flange 1, the upstanding. collar of the latter may advantageously be formed with a series of threaded radial openings which receive correspondingly threaded studs or set screws 9. The inner ends of these set screws by cooperating with the conical or bevelled exterior surface 10 of the packing head serve to secure the head to the flange and to force it firmly downward against the. underlying packing ring 8.

The packing head member 5'is of general ring-like form. It is provided with one or more fluid'outlet passages 11 communicating with the interior of the packing head, suitable pipes 12 being threaded into said outlet openings and valves (not shown) being installed in the pipes for controlling the flow of fluid in the usual manner.

Upon its interior and above the inner-ends of the outlet passages 11, the packing head is formed with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 13 which is preferably bevelled so as to incline downwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the head. This shoulder provides a seat for a correspondingly bevelled metallic ring 14 whichis split so t t it may be placed in position after the casing is connected up. The recessed interior surface 15 of the packing head above the upwardly facing annular shoulder 13 also recelves another split ring of metal 16 whose upper face is bevelled so as to incline downwardly and inwardly. Between these split follower rings a packing ring 17 of rubber or other suitable material is interposed. On its underside the packing head is fashioned with a downwardly opening recess 18 for receiving the upper end of a casing collar 19 between which and'the under surface of the packing head 5 a suitable packing 20, such as rubber, is interposed,

the rubber packin preferably being tioned in an arm ar groove 21 into w ch osithe upper end of the neighboring casing 001- lar 19 projects. .As shown in thedrawings, the outer ,wall 22 of the recess 18' of the pack mg head preferably flares downwardly somewhat so as to facilitate the entry of the upper end of the cooperating casing collar 19. 7 At its lower end-the packing head is preferably formed with an exterior bevelled oiiconical surface for cooperating withjthc set screws 9.

The upper surface of the packing head is provided with an annular seat or surface 23 j which underlies the opposed packing head above it. Encircling this annular surface and projecting upwardl above it is a circular collar 24 carrying a series of threaded set screws 9 which serve to; secureadjacent packing head members in assembled relation in the same manner that set screws 9 heretofore described serve to secure the. lowermost packing head member 5 to the flange memher 1 which is mounted upon the outer casing. To provide means for anchoring the packing casing heads each head member 5 is preferably fashioned with oppositely arranged projecting anchor lugs 25 which may be conveniently formed as grooved bosses or spools through which the fluid outlet passages 11 extend. Anchor bolts 26 pass around the anchor lugs and are suitably secured at their lower ends. It will beunderstood that these anchor bolts may cooperate with the top packmaybe. -Near its upper end it is provided 'withan external downwardly facing annular shoulder 42 for cooperating with the split ring 16 that is immediately above the packing 17, said shoulder, as vin the case of the' ring 16, preferably being bevelled so as to taper downwardly. The collar is formed with an upwardly-extending annular portion 30 adapted to enter the (downwardly opening packing recess or groove 21- in the under. surface of the superimposed packing head member 5. As shown in the drawings,

the upper end of this annular flange portion 3O ofthe casing collar may advantageously be bevelled or inclined in opposite directions so as not only to facilitateits entry into the packing recess 21 butalso to effectively force the packing 20 into. intimate contact with the wallsof said recess. It will be understood that the number of casing headmembers 5 andcasing collars 6 that are employed varies with the number of gstrings'of casing. At its upper end the device is provided with means for holding down the inner string of easing, such means preferably being formed as a top fitting or cap 31 through which the inner string of easing passes and which is provided at its base with a tapering or conical surface 32' with which the set screws 9 carried by thev adjacent casing head member 5cooperate to I maintain the capimember 31 securely in place. The top member 31 fits telescopically over the upper end "of the adjacent casing collar 19.' As the packing heads, casing collars,

split ring followers, packingsand connecting 5 set screws are the same in form and function and differ only in size in accordance with the diameter of the casing,- these parts and'their details of construction have been identified throughout the drawings by corresponding reference numerals.

For the purpose of showing its relation thereto'the packing casing head has been illustrated in association with a tubing head having a body 33 provided with pipes 34 permitting the outflow of oil from the space between the innercasing 29 and the tubing 35.

Secured to the upper end of the body, 33 by set screws 36isa spider37 within which are slips 38 for clamping the tubing. The jointbetween the body 33 and spider 37 is sealed suitable packing 39, while a follower 40 which is adjustably secured to the spider by set screws 41 serves to compress packing material between said follower and the underlying slips. In setting the packing casing head the lowerflange 1 is screwed on to the upper end of theouter string of casing 3 and the lowermost packing head 5 is seated thereon and :secured thereto by means of the cooperating set screws 9 carried by the flange member. The casing collar 19 which is to be secured-to-the upper end of the immediately adjacent inner string of casing 27 is then screwed onto the lower endof a joint or section of casing of appropriate diameter, which serves as an elevator joint and by which the collar 19 is lowered and screwed onto the upper end of the casing 27. 'It is then raised above the encircling packing'head 5 until its downwardly facing external shoulder 42 is placed in position. As these rings are split they may be brought into assembled'position" after the casing is connected up.'- The string of casing 27 is then lowered and its weight,

acting through the shpulder; 42, causes the packing 17 to be compressed between the follower" rings 14 and 16, thus forming a fluid 11-'.'. abovethe upper surface of the adjacent head 7 i member 5, after whichfthe split ring 14 is dropped on to the interior; shoulder 13 of the head member and the rubber packing ring 17 v and the adjacent upper split ring '16 are.

type joint between the casing collar 19 and v the encircling packing head member 5. -The elevator joint is then backed off from itsscrew' threaded engagement with the casing collar 19, and the next head member is lowered into place, being secured to the member 5 be low it by the'set'screws 9 which, by cooperating with the exterior bevelled face 10 of the upper'head member serve to force the'latter downwardly so as to compress the packing 20, thus forming-a fluid tight joint between the upper end of the casing collar 19 .and'the packinghea'd member next above it. This process isrepeated as often as is necessary, depending upon the number of strings of casing, each packing head 5 which is put in place serving, by its weight,- to increase the effectiveness'of the packings at the joints between the casing collars and the packing heads 5. When the uppermost casingcollarlil has been put in position'the top'fitting' or cover flange 31 is placed thereon and secured to the upper casing headmember 5 by means of the set screws 9. The-cover flange or top cap-31(thus prevents the inner string-of casing 29 from rising. tying it to the entire set of casing heads. By this means the outer' strings of easing lend their strength in resisting the blowing out .of-the inner string of casing. v r i In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the component: sections or heads are secured together by bolts 43 instead of by means of the setscrews 9 as heretofore described. Except for this difference and slight changes in the form of oarts,the' modified form ofthe invention is ;imilar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and Z of the drawings and, therefore, requires )ut brief description? The lower flange nember 44 which'is. screwedonto the upper and of the outer string ofcasingfi is prorided with a series ofopenings 45* for-Jthe )olts and is suitably recessed, asat 46, to 'eceive the heads of the latter, the seats for :aid bolt heads being preferably bevelledr or nclined, as' indicated at 66, to permit the iolts to converge or incline ,upwardl'y toward the longitudinal axis of the' device.- For the purpose of sealing the joint betweenhe lower flange member 44 and the packing lead member 47 immediately above it, the lange. member may advantageously be iormed at the top with an upwardly proecting annular collar 48 extending into a lownwar'dly opening-groove or recess 49 in be under surfaceof the adjacent headmemer, a packing ring 50 ofrubberior other uitablefmaterial being positioned 'in the ecess above thelupwardly projecting colll. '1 I H1 Each of thepacking'head members 47 is? ormed with gas outlets 51. which are threadd for suitable pipe'connections; and each ead' member is also fashioned with oppoitely disposed anchor lugs 52 for coperat- 1g with anchor bolts 53 corresponding to ie anchorbolts whose purpose has been here- --the casing collar and the hers 47 to be readily handled and raised and lowered by means of hooks and chains and the like, each head member. may advanta-' members 47 is formed witlran upwardly facing shoulder 55whichis preferably bevelled; This shoulder forms a seat for a correspondingly bevelled split metal ring-56 between which and anhpper'split metal ring 57, a

rubber packing ring 58 is interposed.

The shouldered casing collars: 59 preferably correspond in form and function to the casing collars 19 employed in the form of the device already described, each resting upon the split follower ring 57 that is immediately below it and projecting at its upper end into the packing recess 49 in the under vsurface of the superposed casing head member'47 Amubber ring 60 or other suitable packing material disposed in. the recess 49 packs the joint between the upper end of packing head member 47 next above it. i The top fitting or cover flange member 61 which encircles the innermost string of casing and transversely overlaps the end of the'uppermost casing collar 59 is provided with a; flange 62 having holes 45 therein suit:

ably spaced for receiving the bolts 43, the upper surface, of the flange adjacent the bolt holes being inclined to form seats for the nuts 63. Each 'of the head members 47 is likewise preferably provided at its upper "end with an inclined or dished marginal flange 64 through openings in which the bolts 43 extend. -If desired, a packing ring 65 of rubber or other suitable material may be interposed between the cover flange member 61 and the; casing collar 59 mounted on the innermost string of casing. The manner of assembling the form of the device illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 issimilar to that heretofore described,

A packing casing head constructed in accordance with .the invention has the advantages of simplicity, readiness of attachment and effectiveness of result. he necessity for employingtongsto tighten the casing headmembers is avoided as no screw threads are employed in connecting the heads to. the casing: and thereare but two packing joints to each head member, one above the gas outlet and one below i I claim:

1. A casing head for oil wells embodying a head member hating an opening therethrough and a fluid escape outlet communicating with" saidopeni'ng. means adapted to be mounted upon an outer string of cas tofore explained. To enable the head mem ing for supporting said head member, a casing collar projecting into said opening and.

threaded for connection with an inner string of casing, means extending over the upper end of said collar for normally preventing upward movement of the latterwith respect to said head member, means for retaining said last named means in assembled relation to the head member, and a plurality ofpackjug means one of which is interposed be tween the casing collar and said head member and one of which is interposed between the casing collar and said meansfor preventingupward movement of the latter.

2. A casing head for oil wells embodying a plurality ofliead members each having an opening therethrough and a fluid escape ou let communicatingtherewith, said head menieating with said opening, said head member,

bers being arranged one above another, a plurality of casingcollars each threaded upon its interior for connection with a corresponding string of casing, said collars respectively projecting into said openings of the head members andbeing so formed that they may be slid into said openings from above, a plurality of packing means respectively interposed between one ofsaid casing collars and successive head members adjacent thereto, and means for maintaining said head members in assembled relation. 3. A casing head for oil wells embodying :in integral head member'having an opening tliei ethrough for receiving a casing collar and having a fluid escape outlet communibeing provided with an interior shoulder,

means adapted to be mounted upon a string of casing for supporting said head member, a casing collar pro ecting into said opening and threaded for connection with a string of easing, said collar being provided between its ends with .an exterior shoulder wh ch radially overlaps saidinterior shoulder of the head, and means including a'split ring interposedbetweensaid shoulders for 1 supporting said casing collar on said head an integral head member having an opening member, said split ring being" disposed within said opening of the head member and sub:

stantially conforming to; said opening.

4. A casing head for oil wells embodying th crethi'ough for receiving a casingcollar and hav ng a fluid escape outlet communicating with said opening, said head/member being provided with an interiorbevelled slid into said opening from' above, a plurality of bevelled split packing rings, one

of said rings cooperating with the bevelled shoulder on said head member and the other cooperating with the bevelled shoulder of said casing collar, and'packing means interposed between said rings.

5. A casing head for oil wells embodying a, head member having an opening therethrough and a fluid escape outlet communi- :cating with said opening and. having upon its under side a recess adapted to receivethe upper end of a casing .collar, a casing collar projecting into said opening and threaded interiorly for connection with a string of casing and projecting at its upper end into said recess, means formaintaining saidcollar in said recess, means for supporting said head member, and means for maintaining ,said head member in assembled relation to said supporting means;

' 6. A casing head for 011 wells embodying a head member having an opening, therewith said opening and providedwithanoutwardly projecting anchor lug through which through for receiving a casingcollar and having a fluid escape outlet communicating said fluid outlet extends, means adapted to be, mounted upon an outer string of casing for supporting said head member, a casing collar. projecting into said opening and threaded interiorly for connection withan' inner string-of casing, means for supporting said'casing collar on said head member,

means for securing said head member in assembled position, and means for normally preventing-upward movement ofsaid casing collar with respect to said head member.

7 A casing head for oil wells embodying I a lower flange member adaptedto beinounted upon an outer-string of casing, an upper flange member, one or more head membersinterposed between said lower flange member and said upper flange member, one or more;- casing collars arranged between said lower flange member and said upper flange member, means for maintaining said flaiigemei'nbers 'andheads and collars in assembled' relation, each of said head members having an opening therethrough' for ceiving a casing collar and having a fluid escape out: let communicating-with said opening and provided with an interior shoulder, each of said casing collars projecting into the said opening of an adjacent head member and being so formed that it may be slidii to said opening ,from above and being interiorlv threaded for connection with an inner string ofeasing and-being provided with an eX- terior shoulder, a plurality of split rings respectively engaging said shoulders, and packing means interposed between said split rings.

8. A casing head for oil wells, said head involving means for supporting a string of k I L casing includinfia, member having an ening therethroug for receivinga'collarw ich I 1 is imteriorly threaded for connection with a string of casing, a head member provided 5 upon its underside with a recess adapted to receive the upper endof said collar, said first nlamedmember beingprovided with an upwardly facing shoulder and said collar being formed between its ends with a downwardly. R1 facing'shoulder spaced upwardly from said "upwardly facing shoulder,'means interposed y between said shoulders or supporting said collar on said first named member, and means v for maintaining said collar in said recess of Y the head member. r r s 1 In testimony whereof I aflix my si 'ature. ALFRED-G. HEG EM.

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